Eric Freeman - Head First Learn to Code: A Learner’s Guide to Coding and Computational Thinking

This is one of the most surprising, entertaining and brilliantly-planned software books Ive ever read. Its more interesting and better thought-out than all other beginning programming books I know put together. I run into people all the time who need to learn programming and want to know what course to take; I plan to tell them to forget about courses and get this book instead.

David Gelernter, Professor of Computer Science, Yale University

Head First Learn to Code has humor, emotions, and step by step instructions. This book turns on your brain, makes you laugh and teaches you to be a code masterits a keeper.

Smore Magazine, a science magazine to know more and be more

The book is a great read, even for an experienced programmer, with new perspectives on how to teach difficult concepts we take for granted. Whether your just starting out or trying to figure out ways to bring more people to code, this book will serve you well. Eric has made learning to code accessible and approachable without dumbing anything down and setting the expectations of effort and difficulty that actually exist.

Avi Flombaum, Dean and Chief Product Officer of the Flatiron School

As a high school computer science teacher, Head First Learn to Code is my new primary resource for introducing topics to students. It has an immensely personal touch and its conversational nature, humor, and general style make it feel as if you are learning from another human rather than merely reading a piece of text.

Brandon Shufflebarger, Regents School of Austin

This is the book I wish would have been around when I first started learning to code. Unlike other beginners programming books, Freeman strikes a perfect balance of humor, concise tutorials, and helpful background informationwithout sounding condescending or overly technical. Head First Learn to Code will certainly be a valuable resource for beginning coders at our school fablab.

Patrick Benfield, Innovation Director, The Magellan International School

It takes talent and creativity to write in such an accessible manner. I am looking forward to using the book next school year in an introductory course. I became enthralled with the relevant and accessible examples that were substantive rather than the typical irrelevant and superficial examples presented to the reader of a typical text on the subject.

Josh Sharfman, Teacher, Shalhevet Advanced Studies, Computer Science

In keeping with a book about a language named for Monty Python, theres a lot of meta-humor here about the software industry, about programmer culture, and about tutorial books themselves. Its nice to be reminded that coding takes place in the (sometimes illogical) world of humans.

Adjunct Professor of Music Technology at NYU and Montclair State University

As a National Champion Rock Band Coach, I understand that students must feel inspired by a subject in order to consistently practice and enjoy themselves in the process. Without inspiration and joy, people eventually lose focus and enthusiasm. Thats why good teachers are so valuable to our society. They can break a potentially boring complex subject, like learning code, down into easily digestible, delicious nuggets of fun. As and educator, Eric Freeman is masterful. He shows us how learning can be simple, enjoyable and easily retainable.

James Mays, Director, Band Aid School of Music

HFL2C is a pleasurable, entertaining and effective way to learn computational thinking and python basics. The book has strong pedagogical underpinnings, an exciting array of learning activities and is well written in a fun and conversational tone that is approachable and breaks down complex computational concepts in an easy, digestible way.

Troy Welch, Coordinator, Innovations, Thompson Rivers University